Abbott Labs cutting hundreds of jobs as testing demand drops

WESTBROOK, Maine (AP) A company that makes COVID-19 testing kits is laying off as many as 400 workers at two locations in Maine because of a decline in demand.

Amtrak’s Downeaster beginning to bounce back from pandemic

BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) Amtrak’s Downeaster passenger rail service is steaming toward pre-pandemic norms as the coronavirus recedes in New England.

Prohibition on offshore wind projects in state waters signed into law by Gov. Mills

Governor Janet Mills on Wednesday signed a bill into law that will block the creation of new offshore wind power projects in state waters.

Mom complains of Suboxone in son’s McDonald’s Happy Meal box

Police have charged two Maine people with drug crimes after a mother complained that she found a medication used to treat opioid use disorder in her son’s Happy Meal box at McDonald’s.

Maine schools’ population falls nearly 5% amid the pandemic

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Enrollment in Maine public schools dropped by 4.4%, nearly 8,000 students, between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, according to state Department of Education data.

Four arrested on drug trafficking charges in Augusta

Police arrested a group of men accused of trafficking drugs in Augusta on Tuesday.

More than half of Maine’s eligible population is vaccinated

More than half the eligible population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in every county in Maine.

Canadian tribes threaten to sue over transmission corridor

MONTREAL (AP) Several tribes are threatening to sue to stop construction on the Canadian side of the border on a transmission corridor that aims to provide hydropower to the New England power grid.

Portland police investigate after they say unruly crowd shot fireworks at them

Police in Portland say officers were shot at by fireworks when confronting a group of people who were setting them off illegally.

Maine launches text alert system to address drug epidemic

Maine is adding another tool in it’s arsenal to try to combat drug overdoses.